HISTORY

Timeline

1981

A group of 13 downtown congregations — Protestant, Catholic and Jewish — formed an organization to address unmet community needs. This organization became Urban Ministries of Raleigh, and later, Wake County. We opened our doors in July 1981 to address the adverse effects of poverty for Wake County residents.

1984

The Ark Shelter opens to serve men who are homeless.

1985

The Open Door Clinic begins serving the uninsured—the earliest free clinic in North Carolina that remains in operation.

1986

The Ark expands to serve women who are homeless.

1990

The Open Door Clinic begins addressing the needs of people with chronic illness.

Urban Ministries moves to its new location on Capital Boulevard and expands it services to include day and evening medical clinics and an on-site pharmacy.

2010

Urban Ministries celebrates its 30th year of renewing lives and restoring hope.

2012

Dr. Peter Morris, longtime medical director at Wake County Human Services, is named Executive Director, succeeding Anne Burke, who retires after 26 years in the job.

2012

Urban Ministries and Band Together raise $552,000. The Open Door Clinic will treat an additional 420 new patients over the next two years, providing all physician visits, lab work and prescriptions.

2013

Under new leadership, the longstanding description of services, Hunger, Homelessness and Healthcare gets a face lift to show movement toward goals beyond crisis response: Hunger to Nutrition, Healthcare to Health, Homelessness to a path Home.

2014

Partnership program for local businesses initiated, along with planned giving opportunities launched.

2016

Urban Ministries celebrates 35 years, highlighting all the good from the past, along with what’s to come.